5 healthy foods you should be sticking on the BBQ

Cooking over fire doesn’t mean your diet should go to hell – here are 5 healthy foods you should be sticking on the BBQ this summer.

While classic barbecue favourites like hamburgers and hotdogs might kick it in the indulgence stakes they won’t help you look your best on the beach. Thankfully you can still enjoy the al fresco season with a few savvy food swaps. We’ve come up with some simple barbecue upgrades to help lighten the load this summer. We promise you’ll be coming back for seconds!

Swap beef burgers

For portobello mushroom burgers

A barbecue wouldn’t be a barbecue without burgers now would it? But when you’re watching your waistline and want to keep red meat (and all those carcinogens) to a minimum, swapping a traditional patty for a portobello mushroom can work as a lighter stand-in. Don’t believe us? Try it for yourself. The large flat mushrooms really do make for a yummy, clean-eating centrepiece and thanks to their meaty quality you won’t be disappointed.

How to prepare: Cut the stalks off two portobello mushrooms and grill on the barbecue. Assemble the burger in a bun and add pep with lettuce, red-onion rings, sliced tomato and melted cheese.

Swap coleslaw

For grilled vegetable skewers

Looking for an easy way to cut back on fat and load up on vegetables? Swap coleslaw for chargrilled veggies. Noshing on kebab skewers made with a variety of fresh vegetables is a good way to get your five-a-day while enjoying that unmistakable chargrilled barbecue taste. Yum!

How to prepare: Load up kebab skewers with courgette cubes, chunks of tomatoes and chunks of yellow and green peppers for a big antioxidant hit. Brush on a little olive oil for extra flavour and pop them on the grill until cooked.

Swap spare ribs

For prawn kebabs

Barbecues aren’t just about all-meat dishes. Low in fat and high in protein, grilled prawns are always a big hit on a barbecue menu and way healthier than spare ribs! For extra intense flavour, we recommend marinating prawns overnight.

How to prepare: Marinate shelled king prawns in lemon, olive oil, garlic, chilli and parsley and place on skewers. Cook each side on the grill for 2-3 minutes.

Swap potato salad

For quinoa salad

Potato salad is a barbecue staple but all that creamy mayo is a calorie bank buster. Get inventive with salads and try some adventurous summer flavour combos. We love piling together exotic fruit like mango with quinoa for a vitamin A and protein in one. You won’t be able to pass it up!

How to prepare: Dice and combine avocado, tomato, mango and chilli. Mix in cooked quinoa and dress with olive oil, lemon and coriander.

Swap sausages

For cumin-spiced chicken

Sausages are so last summer! Grilled chicken breast makes a great alternative to processed sausages. It’s super-lean and high in protein, too.

How to prepare: Marinate chicken breast pieces in yoghurt and cumin, and then cook on the barbecue or place on skewers.